One Of America’s Most Ruthless Gangs Started In Michigan

One of the most infamous gangsters of all time, Al Capone, ruled the streets of Chicago during the 1920s. He was practically untouchable to law enforcement, running an "empire of crime" that included gambling, prostitution, bootlegging, bribery, drug trafficking, and more.

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The 1920s, or the "roaring twenties' is highlighted by a period of economic boom but is also mainly known as the Prohibition Era when alcohol sales were banned around the US. This proved to be a lucrative business for smuggling and bootlegging alcoholic beverages, especially for one Al Capone, whose empire relied on these sales. However, if it wasn't for one ruthless Michigan gang, Al Capone would never have been able to get that alcohol. Introducing the Purple Gang.

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Detroit's Purple Gang

Prohibition Era America ran from 1920 to 1933 with the introduction of the 18th Amendment banning manufacturing, transportation, and sale of "intoxicating liquors". Despite alcohol becoming illegal, many people weren't too keen about giving up their alcohol, which created a large black market for bootlegged (illegally made) drinks.

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In comes the Purple Gang, a group of primarily jewish gangsters. While the gang started with petty crime and theft, they quickly upgraded their operation into an underground distilling and brewing business. The Bernstein family -father Harry, sons, Raymond, Abe, Isadore, and Joe- ran the gang before combining with a rival gang known as the Sugar House Gang.

The gang was known for being especially violent and ruthless. During the height of their reign, the Purple Gang was responsible for over 500 murders, including the infamous St. Valentine's Day Massacre in Chicago that saw 7 members of Al Capone's rival murdered.

The Al Capone Connection

It is estimated that Al Capone made nearly $60 million annually from bootleg operations and speakeasies during the Prohibition era, and a large chunk of that is thanks to the Purple Gang. While Al Capone had territory in Michigan, he chose to work with the Purple Gang rather than engage in a territory battle in Detroit. Al Capone worked with the Purple Gang to supply Old Log Cabin whiskey from Canada.

The gang's downfall came from a combination of internal strife, a rival gang slowly picking off leaders of the Gang, and police cracking down on gang members. The final nail in the coffin was the Collingwood Manor Massacre, when Raymond Bernstein and other members murdered three of members of a rival gang and were found guilty of first-degree murder.